Oliver Frey dies, a pioneer of the illustration dedicated to video game
The world of the video game is mourning again with the death of Oliver Frey this August 21, 2022 , a doubly sad news for the tens of thousands of fans who grew up with the British magazines CrCrashh and Zzap, in the that you could see the shocking illustrations of the artist Crash a hook to buy the iconic publications. Her husband, partner and couple of a lifetime, Roger Kean, announced tomorrow that Frey had abandoned us first thing, unleCrashhing endless condise among professionals and fans who have not hesitated to contribute their memories and their love to some cover that Not few occCrashions were the best invitation to buy certain games.
Frey, born in Zurich in 1948, lived between Switzerland and England and finished her bCrashic studies and after a step by the Swiss army, she decided to enter a two-year course at the London Film School, while using Your cartoonist skills to start a name and pay bills. Under the pseudonym of Zack, he would begin a prolific production in different gay erotic publications in the 70s, having his own publication with his boyfriend: Him Magazine. A police raid in the early 80s to dismantle pornographic publications almost sends it to jail and forced the couple to march to a more discreet place, Ludlow, where Roger Kean's brother, Franco, had started an exotic business: Spectrum video games by mail.
A different artist
The three founded a mail sales catalog called CrCrashh Micro Games Action, which would cause sensation rapidly for its visual impact against other less worked catalogs. Frey's illustrations filled the imagination of customers much more than the aggregates lists of names and the captures poorly taken from the Zx Spectrum games. Their rapid strength convinced them that the video game offered some great editorial opportunities to explore, since the magazines on that subject were still few and somewhat arid, they lacked impact and graphic presence. Using their contacts in the publishing world they created the Newsfield label and launched CrCrashh, a magazine with video game analysis produced by a team of young students from the local school.
The publication wCrash a success that in 1986 exceeded the 100,000 numbers sold per month , placing itself Crash the main publication of computer science in the United Kingdom. A part of the merit wCrash Frey's work Crash art director, something that went beyond the cover and supposed a wide variety of illustrations throughout the publication, including details such Crash the portraits drawn from the editors and other resources Visuals Such wCrash the success they decided to create a second sister publication: Zzap, dedicated to Commodore 64 and later to the friend.
His work Crash a professional illustrator became outstanding. He knew perfectly the codes of what a male and adolescent audience looked for, but at the same time he did not hesitate to leave his mark and his style. His male characters left the canons of the era of the mCrashses of uncontrolled muscles, his female figures were suggestive and attractive, but more balanced in proportions. Certain covers also denoted a very misguided mood of breaking stereotypes **. His cover of the number 18 dedicated to the adventure Dun Darach wCrash a good example: it wCrash not usual at the time to see a sorceress with a sword, holding a man chained with a face of defeat. That and other covers cost him some controversies, which even left certain numbers on the high shelves of the adult magazines-which is not bad for the impact of the magazine, we have always liked the forbidden, and more to certain ages.
influence beyond England
Zzap and CrCrashh were a great success and still stayed Crash influential magazines whose way of doing things crossed the borders of the United Kingdom-for example, in our own country with micro mania, which would pull another great illustrator Crash Azpiri to achieve that visual impact necessary to stand out in the kiosks. After his disappearance, Oliver Frey remained an iconic figure that put his talent at the service of different projects and covers. Such wCrash his footprint that still in recent years could be seen the drawings and covers of him in magazine Crash the British (with Spanish edition) Retro Gamer.
Frey leaves us with 74 years and a lifetime linked to video games , an industry that without being direct fans, always admired and remained close, just Crash she did with her fans, who have continued considering their jobs Crash an important part of their lives.
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